B&W landscapes

I have created a unique method in which I combine photograph and photogram. The objects that are used in these prints are indigenous to the landscapes or scenes that I photograph. All of these prints are made in the darkroom, using film negatives, found objects, and fiber based photographic paper. The results are unique representations of the original landscapes. My thematic areas include : New England, Seashores, Desert Southwest, and City / Urban.

I have been active as a photographer for 45 years. In 2012 I received an Artist Grant from the Martha Boschen Porter Fund, which is directed by the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. This grant award was in recognition of my project – Black and White Landscape Photography Project, which is centered on creating unique representations of the natural landscapes of the Northeastern, and Southwestern United States. My work consists of prints that are a combination of photograph and photogram, that I create myself in the darkroom. A photogram is a photographic print made in the darkroom, in which objects are placed on the light sensitive paper, and then exposed to light. The result is a print in which the shape of the object would be white, and the surrounding area would be black. My prints that are created by combining the 2 traditional, pre-digital methods of black and white become a unique rendering of the landscape, in which the objects that are found within the terrain blend with the scene itself. It begins with capturing the imagery using black and white negative film. During the photo shoot I collect naturally found objects that are abundant, along the way. I print using only fiber based photographic paper for the optimal results in capturing the subtle tonal range of black and white. I work in a traditional darkroom, using photographic paper, film negatives, and a wide variety of natural objects. The objects that I collected at the time of the photo shoot are then used in concert with the exposed film. The printing process in the darkroom is quite complex and challenging. Multiple steps include printing exposure tests, arranging the found objects on the paper, exposing the paper both with the negative in place (traditional photography method), and without (traditional photogram method). The prints that I create are unique and moody representations of the natural world, incorporating my respect and affection for that world. The creative process for this type of work is lengthy and involves a great deal of thought and attention to detail. The basis of all my work starts with strong photo images, and I also print these images without using this technique. Courtenay Lee Rogers, Still Light Studio www.leerogersphotos.com leenan@roadrunner.com